Multiple switch.



C. A. SINGER. MULTIPLE SWITCH. APPLICATION mtu mw l, |916.

1,239,833. PutentedSept. 11,1917.

i il 11H Life" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SINGER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, TO SINGER AUTO TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

MULTIPLE SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

Application mcd May 11, 1916. serial ivo. 96,865.

To ZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that II, CHARLES. A. SINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Multiple Switches, of which the following is 'a full, clear, and exact description, such as will able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to multiple switches, and has for its inaindbject to provide a compact multiple switch ot' novel construction that is equipped with un etiicient means for governing the tiperation of the controlling elements of the switch.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a multiple switch that comprises a plurality of controlling elements, a locking means constructed in such a manner that after one controlling element has been render'ed operative, said means prevents anv one' of the other controlling elements from being rendered operative at the same time` and a device that is adapted to be operated so as to restore the operative controlling elementto its normal position andarlso torrender said locking means inoperative. Other objects and desirable features of in v inv'ention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top plan view` partly broken away. of a multiple switch constructed in accordance with rnv invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of said switch.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 27.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the center push button and the locking device controlled by same.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the switch levers; and

Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view of one of the switch levers, illustrating the means used for holding said lever in its operative and inoperative positions.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate e switch constructed in accordance with my invention that is particularly designed for use on an automobile for governing th'e operation of a. traido-signaling device provided with indicators or signals that are electricallypperated, A designates a housing member, preferably of cylindrical forni, which is provided lat its upper end with a top plate 1 in which the controlliiig elements of the switch are mounted. The switch Aherein shown is provided with four selective c'o'ntrollingl 'elements each of which governs an independent electric circuit,`

such, for example, as circuits in ivliichindependently-operated signals are arranged. If desired, the switch may be provided with two additional controlling elements, onerfor governing the horn circuit of anatito'ziobile, and the other for governing the light circuit of the automobile. I wish it to be understood, however, that my invention is not limi-ted to a multiple switch adapted for use on an automobile for controlling the cir cuits of an electx-icalljvoperated signaling device, nor is my broad idea limited to a switch provided with selective controlling elements and also additional controlling clements for governing independent circuits.

The selective controlling elements of the switch preferably consist of four p us'h buttons l5, each of which is operatively connected to a switch lever C, or other siiitable form of. electrical connector that coperaties with a Contact 2 to which one wire a: of :in electric circuit leads, as shown in Fig. 3, the switch lever (l being provided at its outer end with a portion 12 that engages its co operating Contact when the push button B to which the switch lever is connected is depressed. The push buttons B are slidingly mounted in the top plate 1 of the switch housing, and each push button is provided with a dependingy arm 3tha`t is pivot-ally connected to the switch lever with which the push button coperates, the lower end of the arm 3 preferably passing through a hole 3 in the switch lever and being upset so as to simplify the construction of the switch and reduce the cost of manufacturing same. The push buttons B are arranged concentric with relation to the center axis of the switch housing1 as shown in Fig. l, and the switch levers C are arranged at right angles to each other and in such a manner that the inner ends of said levers will terminate at approximately the center of the switch housing. At the center of the switch housingr are four vertically-disposed posts 5 on which the switch levers C are pivotally mounted, said posts beingr so arranged that they will form a guidcway for a locking member. D that cooperates with said switch levers to lock three of them in an inoperative position when the fourth switch lever is rendered operative. The locking device D herein shown consists of a block that is arranged to reciprocate longitudinally of the center axis of the housing of the switch, and said locking device is secured in any suitable manner to a resetting element, preferably a push button B that is arranged at the center of the top plate 1 of the switch housing and which is adapted to be depressed so as to restore the push button B that is operative and also move the locking device D into an inoperative position. The resetting` element B is provided at its lower end with a liange or bearing portion 6 which is so arranged with relation to the switch levers C that it lies above the inner end portions of all of said switchlevcrs. The locking device D is connected to the lower end of a. spindle 7 that projects downwardly from the resetting element B', and said locking device is provided with four notches 8, as shown in Fig. 5, that coperate with depending arms 9 on the switch levers C to lock certain of said switch levers in an inoperative position under certain conditions. When all of the controlling elements B are inoperative, or in their raised position, the locking device D will be positioned below the depending arms 9 on the switch levers out of the path of movement of said arms` When one of the controlling elements B is depressed, or rendered operative, the inner end portion of the switch lever C connected to said controlling element will strike the flange 6 on the resetting element B and move said resetting element upwardly into thc position shown in Fig. 2, the upward movement of said resetting element causing the locking device D to move upwardly into position to engage or cooperate with the depending,r arms 9 on the switch levers of the three inoperative controlling elements B, and thus preventing any of said inoperative controlling elements from being de-V pressed or rendered operative. To restore the operative controlling element B it is necessary to first depress the resetting element B', so as to exert downward presssure on the inner end portion of the switch lever connected to said operative controlling element, and thus move the outer end portion of said switch lever upwardly out of engagement with its coperative contact 2, the downward movement of the resetting element Bicausing the locking device D to move into its inoperative position. It will thus be seen that when one of the four circuits governed by the controlling elements B is closed, it is impossible to close any of the other circuits without first openingr the closed circuit, the act of opening the closed circuit also causing the locking mechanism ol the switch to be rendered inoperative. (foiisequently, such a switch is particularly adapted for use in a signaling apparatus provided with independentlyoperated signals, only one of which is intended to be opcrative at the same time, on account of the fact that the switch is so constructed that it is impossible for it to be operated in such a manner that one signal will be rendered operative, and thereafter another signal will be rendered operative while the irst signal remains operative.

It is immaterial, so far as my broad idca is concerned, how the coperating parts of` the switch are mounted and insulated from each other, but I prefer to mount the cylindrical housing A of the switch, which is formed of metal, on two disk-shaped pieces of insulating material 10 and 11 arranged inside of said housing at the lower end of same and secured to saine by means of bolts or screws 12 that ass through the plates 10 and 11 and througli inwardly-projecting ears 13 on the housing A, as shown in Fig. 2, a spacer 14 being arranged between the plates 10 and 11, so as to provide a space for receiving other switch members that control independent circuits, as hereinafter described. The four center posts 5 are mount ed on the insulating plate 10 and are securely connected thereto by screws or other suitable fastening devices, and a disk-shaped piece of insulating 4material 15 is connected to the upper ends of said posts in such a manner that it will lap over the upper edge of the cylindrical-shaped member that forms the side wall of the housing A. The top plate 1 of the switch housing, which is formed of metal, is held in position by means of the screws that connect the top insulating member 15 to the posts 5.

Two switch members or electrical connectors 16 and 17 that are arranged in the space between the insulating members 10 and 11 control independent circuits separate and distinct from those governed by the controlling eleinents B, as shown in Fig. 3, the switch member 16 preferably consisting of a spring contact that is operated by a push button 16 slidingly mounted in the insulating member 11, and the switch member 17 consisting of a pivotally mounted lever provided with a finger piece 17'* that projects downwardly throu h anarc-shaped slot in the insulating mem er 11. The switch member 17 is carried by a plate that is provided with a binding post 17", and the switch member 16 is connected to a binding post 16". Both of said switch members 16 and 17V coperate with a contact plate 18 arranged on the underside of the insulator 10 and provided with a binding post 18 to which a conductor leads, the contact plate 18 being arranged in such a position that the spring contact 16 will engage same vwhen the push )utton 16 is depressed, and said plate cmg vprovided at one end with a contact 18b which the switch member' 17 engages when said member is moved into its operative position. By-constructing the switch in this manner I can use one wire to form one Side of each of tlielclrcuits governed by the two switch members 16and 17 l'and bythe four controlling elements B, in view ofthe lfact that the contact plate 18 is electrically connected to two of the center posts 5,!andall four center vposts are electrically connected together by the metal top plate 1 of the switch housing.4 p

4If desired, the switch may ibe provided with means for holding the switch levers C in both their operative and inoperative positions, sc ,as to prevent them vfrom moving accidentally out of the position to which they Ahave.fbeen moved, one means that -I have found Vto be very efficient for this pur pose consisting-.of spring-pressed lballs 19 mounted in the center posts 5 and coperating 'withholesordepressions 20 formed in the, side faces of the switch levers C. When Oneof .the switch ,levers vC is in an operative positionthe ball 19 in the post on which said leverismountedwillenter onel of the holes .20 in zsaidvlever, nand thus hold it in position, and when said lever is restored `,to

its-:ino erativeposition, saidball 19 will enter ;t e other hole-,20 .in the level', and thus yieldingly -lock it in position.

krlllltiple` switchV of the construction above described is compact; it can be manu,-

actured cheaply` and it is s o constructedA thatit is impossible Ufor a controlling element to be rendered operative yWhile a previouslyactuated, controlling element is in :inoperative conditirm. i

lHaving thus described my invention, what .T claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patc'ntilS: 1 c.

1. A multiple switch provided with a pluralit)y of independently-operable selective controlling elements grouped about a central point. a locking device arranged at said central point and common to all of the controlling elemcnts for locking the inoperative controlling elements when one of said controlling elements is rendered operative, and means for rendering said locking device inoperative `with respect to all of the controlling elements when the operative controlling element is restored to its inoperative position.

Q. A multiple switch provided with a plurality of independently-operable selective controllingr elements. a device that locks all of thc inoperative controlling elements and prevents them from being operated when one of said elements is operative, and a resetting or restoring device, which, upon being operated, restores the operative controlling clement and also renders said lock` ing device inoperative.

3. A multiple switch, comprising a plurality of independently-operable selective controllin elements, a resetting device common to-al of said controllin elements and arranged so=thht it will move 1n one direction whenever fany oncof said controlling elements is rendered operative, and a locking device governed by the resetting device and arranged se that it will locktheinoperative controlling elements 'when a controlling element is rendered-b erative.

4; A mltiple switch provided lwith a plurality f independently-'operable selective controllingelements-,a resetting or restoring device for said elements, means combined with said controlling' elements and said resetting Idevicev for causing said device to move 1n=onedirection when any one of said controlling elements is rendered operative and Tor causing the operative controlling ele mentltobe restored to its inoperative position when said resetting device is moved in the opposite direction, and means coperating with said resetting device for preventing the inoperative controlling devices from being operated.

5; A multiple switch provided with a plurality of movable electrical connectors arranged in a group, a locking device that is moved automatically into position to lock allof the inoperative connectors when one oi the connectors is rendered operative, and a restoring device common to all of said connectors that controls said locking device.

M6, A multiple switch provided with a plurality of switch levers arranged at an angle to teach yother and in such a manner that t ie free ends of same are in proximity to cach other andgrouped about a central point, and a locking devicenarrangcd at said central point and combined with said levers in such a manner that Whentme lever is actuated saidV device will move automatically into position to lock the other levers.

7. A multiple switch provided with a plurality of switch levers arranged at an angle to each other and in such a manner that thc free ends of same are in proximity to cach other. a locking device combined with said levers in such a manner that when one lever is actuated said device will move automatcally into position to lock the other levers, and a resetting device common to all of said switch levers and operatively connected to said locking device for moving it into an inoperative position when said resetting device is actuated to restore one of said switch levers.

S. A multiple switch. provided with a plurality of switch levers arranged at an angle to each other so that the free ends of same are in proximity to each other, posts on which said levers are pivotally mounted, and

a locking device slidingly mounted on said posts and adapted to coperate with said levers in the manner described.

9. A multiple switch provided with a plurality of switch levers arranged at an angle to each other so that the free ends of same are in proximity to each other, posts on which said levers are pivotally mounted, a locking device slidingly mounted between said posts and adapted to coperate with said levers iny the manner described, and a resetting device guided by said posts and connected to said locking device.

10. A multiple switch provided with a plurality of switch levers arranged at an an le to each other around a center axis, a loc ring device that reciprocates longitudinally of said axis, and means for causing said locking device to move into position to engage all of said levers except one when one lever is rendered operative.

11. A multiple switch provided with a plurality of posts arranged in parallel relation to each other, switch levers pivotally mounted on said posts, and a reciprocating locking device shdingly mounted on'said posts and provided with notches that receive portions on all of said levers except one when said locking device is in its operative position.

12. A multiple switch rovided with a plurality of posts arranged) in parallel relation to each other, switch levers pivotally mounted on said posts, a reciprocatmg lock ing device slidingly mounted between said posts `and provided with notches that receive portions on all of said levers except one w en said locking device is in its operative position, and a resetting device connected to said locking device and arranged in such a position that it can be moved in one direction by the free end of a switch lever that is rendered operative.

13. A multiple switch, comprising ahousing, a plurality of posts arranged in said housing in parallel relation to each other, switch levers pivotally mounted on said posts, push buttons pivotally connected to said levers and projecting through openings in the end wall of the housing, a resetting device having a portion that fits between said posts and which is arranged in the path of movement of the free ends of said switch levers, and a locking plate connected to said resetting device and provided with notches that receive depending arms on said switch levers when sald locking plate is in its operative position.

14. A multiple switch, comprising a housing, a plurality of posts arranged in said housing in parallel relation to each other, switch levers pivotally mounted on said posts, push buttons pivotally connected to said levers and projecting through openings in the end wall of the housing, a resetting device having a portion that fits between said posts and which is arranged in the path of movement of the free ends of said switch levers, a locking plate connected to said resetting device and provided with notches that receive depending arms on said switch levers when said locking plate is in its operative position, and spring-'pressed detents in said post that coperate with said switch levers.

15. A multiple switch, comprising a cylindrical-shaped housing member, a plurality of selective controlling elements grouped about the center of said housing, switch levers governed by said controlling elements, a locking device arranged inthe center of said housing, means whereby the act of rendering any one of said levers operative causes said device to lock the remaining levers, and means for rendering said locking device inoperative.

CHARLES A. SINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

